Contraceptives

This IS about birth control even though it may not look like it! Read on.

On Wednesday, NBC will be premiering its new reality TV show, The Baby Borrowers. Will you be watching or will you dismiss it in favour of Big Brother? Grab a friend, preferably your partner and watch. The series is a social experiment showing how teenage couples , ages 18-20 will, over the course of three weeks, experience what it is like to have to cope with all aspects of an instant family, babies and all. The teenagers will have to set up a home, get a job and becoming caring and attentive parents - first to babies, toddlers, pre-teens and their pets, teenagers and, finally, senior citizens. Has this anything to do with contraceptives and birth control? YOU BETCHA! With 3 decades of ‘family planning’ ahead of every fertile female, take note of how reality will bite if you DON’T plan when to have your children ( I am in awe of those wonderfully stoic women/foster parents who adore their 6 kids and are perfect mums!)

Okay, okay , as a mother of two, I admit that in ‘real time’ all of the above does not happen within 3 weeks but the bottom line is - it DOES happen once that little bundle of joy appears on the scene. You DO have to deal with the demanding nitty gritty of child rearing and the relentless ‘daily routine’ once that first flush of partner passion has subsided (note I did not say romance or love here) Unless you are a member of the Royal family or have film star status, once you give birth you jolly well don’t get a ‘life’ rewind button or your own ‘live- in’ little Lem Sip men to take over the baby care or bail you out of ‘debt damage’ when you can’t make ends meet. Don’t get me wrong- in my opinion, having children is one of the best things I ever did and one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had and though I could NOT have afforded more than 2, I think I could have reared a couple more. Bringing up kids when you are ‘ready’ and when you have the TIME to nurture and teach them properly will make life a whole lot easier for you and everyone else.

SO…. be prepared, be safe, watch the show and let me know what you think!

Women’s contraceptive pills use chemical signals in our bodies to block ovulation so how are things going with the development of a male contraceptive to block sperm production, will it be in the form of a pair of sperm suppressing knickers, (now they really would be magic!) an implant, injection or a contraceptive pill?

It looks like it’s going to be a while yet before further options are added to what is currently a very short list of options for male contraceptives ( condoms and vasectomy) but the GOOD NEWS is that male hormonal birth control methods appear to have lower risks of side effects than female methods.  Oh, I do hope so for the sake of those little lab mice!  Read this latest news article about how men can be turned on and off, literally, in the reproductive basement.

A man’s pituitary gland produces the chemicals that signal sperm and testosterone production to commence in the testes. Men do not produce female progestin so a male hormonal contraceptive would have to consist of testosterone, along with the female hormone progestin. Once in the bloodstream, these hormones would tell the pituitary that the testes already had done their job, so the pituitary would not produce the signals.

Switching off the signal is likened to a thermostat switching off an air conditioner according to Ronald Swerdloff, head of the endocrinology department at the University of California, Los Angeles, Harbor Medical Center. You may be surprised to read in this article that in one survey of 9,000 men, more than half said they would use male birth control. They have never struggled and sweated themselves into a pair of magic knickers though have they girls, so it’s my bet that the pill will get the vote!

You’re probably wondering, ‘What on earth can a cup of cottage cheese have to do with me taking oral contraceptives? If moodiness is a side effect you suffer from- you need to read this. Personally, I am not a pill popper and much prefer to use ‘natural’ products whenever possible, including good quality, non synthetic supplements that have not been tested on animals. At the end of this post I have provided some links to an on line, direct supplier for this type of supplement, this source also has natural skin care products, shampoos, weight loss products and yes, even a ‘natural libido booster’ if life is a little ‘quiet’ for you right now!

Did your doctor tell you that oral contraceptives can increase your hunger (so you eat more and gain weight!) and also that they can deplete your body of certain essential nutrients? As though refined foods and sugary treats weren’t enough!

Have you been taking an oral contraceptive for more than 7 years? If so, it is likely that you are deficient in some nutrients and should be taking a supplement. Research has shown that the B group of vitamins are the most commonly depleted nutrients when taking oral contraceptives. Vitamin B is critical to keeping your nerves healthy (hence they are often sold as executive ’stress’ vitamins)

A high-potency, B-complex vitamin (with at least 50 -100mg of B6, 1,000 meg of B12, and 800 meg of folate) should be taken alongside contraceptive pills. An increased need for vitamins C (1-3g, yes, not mg), E,(400-600 IU’s) and K may also result from the use of birth control pills- Vit C especially can help to reduce the chance of vaginal infections.

Cells that are replaced frequently, like those in the mouth and gut can become ulcerated if folate is depleted.
Folic acid is a relative of Vit B and is important for brain health as well as cell repair and development.

You may never have heard of Tyrosine but you’ve probably heard of amino acids. Tyrosine is an amino acid which has many ‘jobs’ in your body but one is to keep your thyroid healthy. Low tyrosine can also contribute to depression. Depletion of tyrosine is one of the reasons ‘the pill’ is often associated with weight gain and moodiness. AH! Is that a penny dropping? OK , next time you pop out to collect your prescription for Alesse or other oral contraceptive pill, grab a tub of cottage cheese from the supermarket as this is the highest food source of tyrosine: 1 cup provides 1.5 g. (or you can take a supplement -1.5 g daily), particularly during the second half of your menstrual cycle.

It is likely that we are all slightly short of magnesium anyway so women who take oral contraceptives can become even more depleted. deficiency often shows itself as muscle cramps, weakness, insomnia, kidney stones, bone loss, depression, nervousness, anxiety and high blood pressure. Take 500 mg at bedtime in a liquid or powdered form for easy absorption.

Copper levels in the blood may be increased by the use of oral contraceptives which can lead to depression and
emotional problems. Limit supplement to 1mg. Whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables will ensure that copper requirements are met.

If you normally take an iron supplement you may not need it if you take oral contraceptives. Iron levels may increase when you are on the pill as there is often less blood loss. Iron needs are probably reduced from the usual 18 mg. to around 12-15 mg per day. However, if your periods are heavy or you have anemia then you may need a different dose of iron. Check with your doctor first.

Zinc is another essential mineral depleted by oral contraceptives and is important for wound healing and combatting depression; supplement with 20 to 50 mg daily, which will also help to reduce copper levels.
“As if I don’t have enough side effects to worry about!”- well, at least a quick blood test will show you exactly where you stand with your body’s nutrients and you never know- that tub of cottage cheese may be just the thing to banish those monthly moods!

Source: Nutrition and Vitamin Therapy, Michael Lesser, M.D

Elson M. Haas M.D. Staying Healthy with Nutrition
Better Nutrition

Here are the links to the natural products I mentioned. Be kind to your body, be kind to earth, Vegetarian, chemical free, addictive free and All Natural- what more could you want?

Multi Vitamin Supplements
Get nature’s wholesome goodness of whole food ingredients with a combination of powerful nutrients, with Life Multi Complete a multivitamin and mineral combination.

Natural Skin Care products

Libido Booster

A remote controlled contraceptive for guys- could this be the ultimate ‘boy’s toy’?

You can stop holding your breath for the male contraceptive pill or putting out for your man to choose a vasectomy (my ex did bless him, or I may have ended up with 4 to bring up alone!) Living in Melbourne, I have to say “Go the Aussies!” for this radio controlled device that, wait for it, controls the flow of sperm from your lover’s testicles to his penis. All design components have been finished and lab tests with pressurized water are the next step. Live pigs and sheep watch out- you’re next.

New Scientist has just released information about a male contraceptive implant that is being developed at Adelaide University, Australia. The device is an open/close micro valve that is placed inside the vas deferens ( tube leading from the testicles that is the sperm ‘highway’ to the penis) When closed, the valve blocks off the sperm and only allows those little swimmers to resume their merry way again when it is opened by a radio controlled switch. Whatever next!?

Vasectomies are usual permanent and often irreversible  ( a physician can use a needle to remove sperm from the testicles and then perform in vitro fertilization) but this little sweetie looks like being much more user friendly, with high hopes of easier and more successful reversal. The valve will only be offered to men who are considering a vasectomy anyway, as there are still fears that over time, proteins could clog the device closed and cause permanent infertility. After initial insertion there will be a ‘cooling off’ period when the procedure can easily be reversed so this will give peace of mind to those who may later decide they want more children after all.

New Scientist states, ‘The silicone-polymer valve can be flipped between open and closed positions with a pulse of radio waves. A set of conducting “fingers” on the valve act as antennae and convert the signal’s energy into sound waves that travel through the polymer and create stresses inside the device.’ Team leader Said Al-Sarawi explains,”Since it is flexible, the polymer either contracts or expands as a result, and this movement allows the valve to be opened or closed as needed”.

“It will be like turning a TV on and off with a remote control,” added team founder Derek Abbott, “except that the remote will probably be locked away in your local doctor’s office to safeguard against accidental pregnancy or potential misuse of the device.” In case you’re wondering if the device can be turned on accidentally- NO because it works in a similar way to a car’s remote key-fob. Each valve responds only to a radio-frequency signal with its own unique code.

How is the male contraceptive implant inserted? No open surgery is needed but the needle squeamish guys out there will have to look away as the hypodermic snugly ‘push fits’ the little micro valve into position. Is another male contraceptive needed as well? You betcha, unless you are with one ‘clean’ partner- use a condom if you wish to avoid catching an STD.

I do hope they give the implant a nice name, if a dog is currently ‘man’s best friend’ he may soon find himself with a rival.

Thank you to Diane Rubino of The Population Council (pubinfo@popcouncil.org) for updating and supplying the additional information for this topic. The previous post with this title has been deleted so as not to cause any confusion with the current status on this issue.
The information has been directly supplied to me by the Office of Public Information at the Population Council.

The future is looking bright for the soon to be available new contraceptive for women- the contraceptive spray. Companies on opposite sides of the globe, Acrux Pharmaceuticals (West Melbourne, Australia) and The Population Council (New York, NY) have combined their products and expertise to develop a revolutionary way of blocking ovulation.

The contraceptive spray is still under development. It has not yet completed the safety and effectiveness testing that is required by the FDA before the agency determines whether or not a product should be put on the market.

Effective, safe and appealing-these are the main elements women want in their range of contraceptives

Igor Gonda PhD and now ex CEO of Acrux Ltd, stated in 2005, “The Population Council and Acrux are developing this new product because we believe that we will provide many women with an attractive choice of contraception that could be convenient, effective, and have no or few side effects”.

Results from the initial phase are positive, with the Population Council’s “Nestorone” (estradiol) being administered via Acrux’s patented spray.

The Council’s Nestorone®, a progestin, is combined with a natural estrogen, estradiol, which are administered via Acrux’s patented spray technology.

The solution containing Nestorone and estradiol is sprayed onto the skin each day in a measured amount, is absorbed into the bloodstream and blocks ovulation.

Nestorone is a derivative of the natural progesterone, and is combined with a natural estrogen, unlike the hormones currently used in oral contraceptives and the patch.

The hormones are ‘carried’ in an alcohol base that also contains a ’skin penetration enhancer’.

Advantages of the spray

Acrux had previously developed a spray delivering the natural estrogen estradiol to be used for postmenopausal hormonal therapy. Now approved by the FDA, the spray may be on the market by next Christmas. It is expected to be on the market by the first quarter of 2008, probably under the name “Evamist” for treatment of postmenopausal symptoms.

The same spray technology is being evaluated to deliver a combination of Nestorone and estradiol for contraceptive purposes.

• The contraceptive is sprayed onto the inside of the forearm, where it dries within a minute. Then the hormones Nestorone and estradiol are slowly released into the bloodstream over a period of time.

• A woman may have more flexibility with WHEN she uses it, since the little pool or ‘reservoir’ that forms in the outer layer of the skin supplies the progesterone derivative and estradiol constantly. This ‘reservoir’ is then topped up with the next dose.

• The fluctuations in blood levels will be milder than with traditional pills.

• The TIMING of application will not be as crucial with the spray as with the oral contraceptive,(which should be taken at approximately the same time each day to be most effective)due to the fact that one dose of Nestorone will be distributed to the body steadily over a 24-hour period.

NATURAL hormones such as Nestorone and estradiol are used in the spray–not synthetic ones (as in the patch and pills, which previously have been linked to rare cases of cardiovascular disease).

Nestorone is so effective in blocking ovulation that only microgram, rather than milligram doses (found in some contraceptive pills), will be needed.

According to Régine L. Sitruk-Ware, MD, executive director of research and development at the Population Council,“The two natural hormones we use should improve the tolerability and will have much less impact on the liver than products on the market.” Furthermore, the formulation may also be suitable for breastfeeding women because the compound Nestorone cannot be orally absorbed and will not harm infants.

Fewer Side Effects

Researchers are optimistic that the contraceptive spray will be far more ‘user friendly’ than the birth control pill or the contraceptive ‘patch’ as it will eliminate some side effects.

Nausea (which makes some women skip doses of the pill) in particular will not occur because nothing is taken down the gastrointestinal tract to the stomach.

We don’t yet know what the conditions of use will be (no swimming after spraying?!!!)but this method of contraception is under development to evaluate the efficacy and safety in women seeking contraception. It is to be hoped that when the final phase of clinical trials is completed, the spray will be very affordable (lower dose = lower price?) This is an important milestone for the contraceptive market–and why wouldn’t it be? Worldwide sales of hormonal contraceptives in 2006 were around $6.7 billion!

Source: The Population Council

Latest Warning about Spermicidal and and Vaginal Contraceptives sold over the counter.

If you have been in the habit of relying solely on spermicides such as foams, gels, films or an insert that contains N9 for your sole method of birth control it is important that you heed the latest warning from the FDA- as you are playing Russian Roulette with the risk of being infected with an STD, especially if you have several sexual partners.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning yesterday to all manufacturers of stand-alone, over the counter, vaginal contraceptive and spermicidal products containing the chemical ingredient nonoxynol 9 (N9) to include a statement in the pack warning that the chemical N9 does not provide protection against infection from the Aids virus or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

N9 may actually facilitate transmission of the disease for those who are at risk for HIV/AIDS.

HOW? N9 can irritate the delicate tissues in the areas of the vagina and rectum, which the FDA says may increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS from an infected partner. In case you are saying to yourself, ” I have no irritation, so I must be OK”, know that this irritation often has no symptoms.
Apparently this final decision comes after a major clinical study conducted in Africa and Thailand (high incidences of Aids and STD’s) where one group of women used a contraceptive gel containing N9 and another group used used a ‘placebo’ gel, (not containing N9).

The women who used the contraceptive gel containing N9 were not protected against HIV and other STD’s and alarmingly, were also found to be at a higher risk of HIV infection than the women using the placebo gel.

To read the full labelling now required by manufacturers for products containg N9
visit the FDA News page HERE.

STOP using any of these above mentioned contraceptive products NOW if you have experienced a rash, burning sensation or itching of your vagina or if your partner has these symptoms on his penis. Go to the doctor, get checked out and and discuss future options.

Source: FDA News page

If you are following the latest updates on which American school clinics are going to make contraceptives available to Middle and High school students, here is an interesting article from the Los Angeles Times.

6 Denver High Schools may offer Birth Control

“DENVER — At least once a day, a teenage girl walks into North High School’s health clinic, wanting to find out whether she’s pregnant. Frequently, it turns out she is.

The city’s teen birth rate is more than double the statewide rate of 24.3 births per 1,000 girls age 15 to 17, and Denver school officials are considering a proposal to dispense contraceptives in its six high-school-based health clinics, which serve the district’s most impoverished students.

The recommendation by a task force studying the future of the clinics comes shortly after a highly publicized case in Portland, Maine, where a local school board allowed a clinic to dispense birth control to middle-school students.

The Denver proposal would affect only high school students, but it has raised similar concerns: Opponents say the easy availability would encourage youngsters to have sex….read more

If research funds hold out and we can hold our breath for another 4 or 5 years, two types of oral contraceptive pill for men and a sperm blocker may be coming our way. In America, approximately one third of the responsibility for contraception is taken by men using condoms or having vasectomies. For this figure to grow, other non-permanent methods of acceptable and safe birth control for use by males will have to be developed.

We have been told for years now that a male contraceptive will be on the market ’soon’. When one finally DOES appear on the market, there could be mixed reactions from women, not least issues of trust and maybe handing back the ‘power of control’ over when to conceive. You will still need a good supply of anti STD devices though so stock up here at a reliable site- they have other ‘goodies’ too.
Will women rely solely on her male partner to take responsibility for birth control (as HE will not be the one physically going through an unplanned pregnancy) or will she take extra precautions ‘just in case’?

“Some men are quite desperate for better control over their fertility,” said Kirsten Thompson, director of the International Male Contraception Coalition. “They’re looking for something they can really count on.” So are we gentlemen!

Two conferences on the “Future of Male Contraception” have been held so far in Seattle (sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization and others) and a number of possibilities for new male contraceptive options look like being viable, including, wait for it guys, a device for blocking sperm that is inserted into the vas deferens (is that a cringe I feel?).

The vas deferens is the ’sperm tube’ that is cut in a vasectomy (my ex had this done and if one sits on an ice bag immediately after the op it keeps the bruising down and recovery is quite quick)

The sperm blocker device currently being developed, is comprised of a set of removable plugs that have so far been tested on 90 men. The results of the plug insertion trial show “substantial equivalence to traditional vasectomy methods”. However, more research is now required to find out if normal fertility returns after the devices have been removed.

Could this be the makings of a new catchphrase ladies? “Show me your scars honey!”

The Oral Contraceptive Pill for women uses synthetic female hormones- a ‘testosterone-like’ pill for men that uses a drug called “selective androgen receptor modulator,” or SARM is presently being tested on humans for treating osteoporosis and muscle wasting, this drug, when taken orally, has also been found to reduce sperm count in rabbits.

A team @ Pittsburgh University has found that a non- hormonal compound known as CDB-4022 stops monkey sperm from swimming to their destination and importantly, within 16 weeks of stopping treatment, normal fertility returned. The chief factor of safety in the administration of this drug still needs to be tested though.

A new survey by the International Male Contraception Coalition found 61 percent of men would pick a non-hormonal drug over other contraceptive choices. I wonder if they asked these men if they were comfortable with us women taking a hormonal contraceptive pill?

If the latest studies are to be believed, more men are becoming interested in taking more responsibility for birth control. While it is doubtful that we shall reach a point where ALL men see that this responsibility should be shared equally with women, surely it is healthy and mature to keep abreast of the latest developments so that we are all in a better position (no pun intended) to discuss the type of contraceptive ‘arrangement’ that is win/win for both partners and successful family planning for the future?

Adjudin and the ‘dry orgasm’ pill for men (no ejaculate produced) may eventually be developed with very minor side effects.

To see the reactions of 10 men when asked about taking a male contraceptive pill watch this 2 min. video

If the video does not appear in 10 seconds CLICK HERE